Friction shock absorbing mechanism



Aug. 23, 1932. F, O'CONNOR 1,873,718

FRICTVION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 25. 1929 Patented Aug. 23, 1932 H i 1 UNE-TEDSTATS PATE JOHN F. 0 CONNOR, OF CHICAGG, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 W. H. MNER, INC., O i Y ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF IDElLA`VSAREl NT OFFICES r 'cnrcrieoj FRICTION srIock'ABsoRBrNG MECHANISM Application led February 25, 1929.'V Serial No. 342,425.

'This invention relates to improvements in friction shock absorbing mechanisms. l. @ne object of the invention is jto provide c ,a frictionshock absorbing mechanism espef cially-adapted for railway draft riggings, in-

cluding Vend followers and ak plurality of spring resisted friction wedge elements inter- `posed between the followers and adapted to be actuated uponr relative approach of the same, wherein certain of the friction'wedge elements and the followers have interlocking means to limit separation ofthe followers and maintainl the mechanism assembled.

A more specific'object of the invention is .'15 to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism including end followers andV a plurality of spring resisted friction wedge members interposed therebetween, includingv a longitudinally disposed Ycentral columnhaving 'wedge faces at oppositeV ends thereof, friction wedge blocks cooperating with the -wedge Vfaces ofthe column and having frictional engagement with the followers, and additional wedge blocks having wedging engagement with Vthe friction Vwedge blocks and followers, whereinthefriction wedge A blocks have shouldered engagement with the followers and column to limit Vseparation of the followers and hold the mechanismassemsbled. l Y

Other andi further objectsof the invention will more clearlyappear from thedescription and claims hereinafter following. y In the'drawing .forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is ahorizontal, longitudinal sectional view of a portion ofthe underframe structure of a railway car at one end of the same, illustrating my improvements in connection therewith. j Figure 2 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view,` corresponding substantially to the line Y2 2 of'Figure 1, illustrating the shock absorbing mechanism only. Figure 3 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view,'corresponding substantially to the line 3 3 of Figure 1. 'And Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view of a friction wedge element employed in connectionwith my improved shock absorbing mechanism.

In said drawing, 10-10 indicate spaced, channel-shaped center or ldraft sills of a rail- `of spring resistance elements E-E.

`rior wedge surfaces or faces 19-19. The top yfor a purpose hereinafter pointed out.

way ycar underframe, to the inner sides of .which are secured-front stop lugs 11`11 and rear stop lugs 12-12. `The inner end of the coupler shank is designated by 13 and has a hooded ,yokey le operatively connected 55 thereto. MyimprovedA shocky absorbing mechanism is disposed withinthe yoke andthe yoke in turn isvsupported yby a detachable saddle plate 15 secured tothe draft sills.

My improved friction .shock absorbing mechanism comprises, broadly, a pair of outer followers A-A, a central wedge .column B, two pairs of friction wedge blocks C+C, two pairs of wedge blocks D-D, andja pair The outer followers A are of similar design, each being inthe form of a casing having a relatively heavy transverse end wall 16, spaced top and bottom walls 17-,17 and spaced side walls 18-18. The end wall 1 6 of 70 each follower cooperates with the corresponding stop lugs of the draft sills.y As shown, the side walls 18 are provided with inwardly diverging portions presenting opposedV inteand bottom walls ofl each follower are pro-v Vvided with interior transversely disposed retaining ribs 20-20 atthe inner ends thereof. As shown in Figure 1, the ribs 2O4 arerelativei ly short,l therebyleaving openings at opposite sides to accommodate the friction wedge blocks C. Each follower casingAf'also has central openings 21-21 in the top and bottom walls thereofadjacent-the transverse end walls; These openings are to permit the in- -e sertion of a tool used in removing the friction 'wedge blocks. Y

The wedge column member B is of a form illustrated in Figure 2 and comprises al central, verticallyv disposed, relatively heavy web 22 reinforced by top, bottom and end flanges 23.' At the opposite ends, the column B is provided with enlargements 24-24 having outwardly converging wedgefaces 25-25 on yopposite sides thereof. As shown in'Figures 1 and 3, each wedge face 25 is centrally slotted at the rear portion thereof, as indicated at 26, thereby providing a retainingshoulder 27 The friction wedge blocks C, whichv are four in number, are arranged in pairs at opposite ends of the mechanism, the members of each pair being disposed at opposite sides of the column member B. The friction wedge blocks are of similar design, each having a flat outer end face 2S cooperating with a wear plate 129 interposed between the same and the end wall 16 ofthe corresponding casing A. At the inner end, each block' Cis provided withA avpair of inwardly converging wedge faces 29-29. rlhe wedge face '29 on the inner side of the block is lreener than the face 29 on the outer side and cooperateswith the wedge face 25 at the corresponding side of the wedge column B. Each block C is also provided with a retaining lug-*8O on theinnerlface thereof, which engages within the 'slot26 at the corresponding side of the column B and is adapted to engage the shoulder 27, thereby limiting outward movement of 'the block C with respect to the column.

vllachbloclr is also provided withtopand bottomfflanges `3l-3l extending laterally inwardly and overhanging the wedge face 29. Theflanges 3l are provided with `flat end faces 32'which .are adapted to engage the ribs '20 of the casing A, thereby limiting outward `movement of the casings with respect to the block C. As will'be evident, the blocks C be- 1ing limitedin their outward Amovement ,by shouldered engagement with thel 'column and thelfollower casings in tiirn being limited againstoutward movement with lrespect to the blocks C by having shouldered engage- Vment therewith, the separation of the follower casings ispositively limited, thereby maintaining the over-all length of the mechanism fand holding'the lparts assembled.

The wedge bloclrsifD, which are four in number, are also arranged in pairs at opposite lsides 'of the mechanism and are interposed between the blocls C and the wedge faces of thefcasings A. 'Each block D has a flat inner end 'face bearing directly ,on a vspringfollower plate 33. 'At the front end, eachblock Dis provided with a pair of wedge facesv B1- 35 which diverge inwardly'of `the mechanism. 'The wedge face 37T'. is on the in- -ner side of the block and cooperates'with the outer 4wedge face 29 of the corresponding block C. rlhewedge face 35 of each blocliD ycooperates withthev wedge face'l9 ofthe corresponding),` casing A, the wedge face i9 being similarly Yinclined to the wedgeface 'The spring resistance elements-E, which are disposed at opposite sides ofithe column B, are interposed between the spring followers' 43 at opposite ends-ofthe mechanism. Each spring element B preferably comprises a pair of relatively heavy coils arranged lengthwise. ofthe mechanism and disposedin vertical alignment. As shown in-Figure l, thespring followers 4-3 are of greater `width 'than-.the'wedge blocks D, wherebyrelative movement in a lateral'direetion` of vthe blocks on the spring followers ispermitted. ln orusorbing mechanism is as follows: During either a. draft or buffing stroke of the mechanism, the follower casings A will be moved inwardlyv relatively to each other, thereby forcing the blocks C inwardly ltherewith along the column B. Due to the wedging en- `1gagement between the blocks C and the column,.the blocks will be forced laterally apart sliding on the w-ear'plates 129 and thus squeezv:ing out theblocks D between the .wedge `faces ofthe blocks C and the wedge faces of the casing, compressing the spring resistance elements E. During this action, in. addition to the-,frictioncreated between the-outer ends` of the blocks C and the `wear-plates 129,fric- .tion.will..also .be created between the cooperating wedge faces-of the blocks D, casings ,Amand the blocks C, due tol slippage of-these faces-on each other, and friction willY also be-hadfbetween the inner ends ofthe blocks- D `and'thespring followers 3?),inasmuchas the blocks D are forced to slide laterally.. outwardly .while ybeing forced inwardly ofthefmechanism.

.Compression ofthe mechanism will be limited by engagement ofthe end walls ofthe followerszwith ltheopposite ends of the column B andalsoby engagement of the inner VVends ofthe top. and bottom walls of the followersI with vertical stop shoulders 37-37 Aprovided at opposite ends ofthe column', the stop shoulders 37-and inner ends-of the rfollowersbeing spaced apart, inthe normal 'full releaseposition of the mechanism,a distance equal tothe spacingbetween the outer ends of the columnand the wearfplates 129.011 the .inner sidesof the end" .walls of the -casings. A.

' During the compression of the mechanism, g

the abutmentfaces 32 on the blocks C will be mov-edlaterallyof the ribs 2O and they abutment shoulders on Ysaid blocks will be moved inwardly-away from'the abutment shoulders on ,the-opposite ends of the column B. The lateral movement of ,the blocks C, however, fis not soy great asto disengage the abutment faces 32 4from the ribs. 20. When the actuating force is reduced, the expansive .action ofthespring resistance elements E will force .the wedge blocks D outwardly, .carrying the casingsA therewith. Due to the Vwedging action of ,theblocksD,;the blocks C willbe held in contact with the ,wedge faces of the column-wand bey forced laterally inwardly toward each other as thecasingsare separated. inasmuch as the ribs. 2O ofthe follower casings are .at all times in engagement with the abutmentfacesi32 offthe'blocks Cythe latter will be carriedoutwardly with the casings until the lugs 8O of the blocks C engage the shoulders 27 of the column, whereupon outward movement of the blocks C and the follower casings A will be positively limited.

In assembling the mechanism, the blocks C are iirst inserted in the casings A by disposing the same on opposite sides of the ribs 20 and then sliding the same laterally inwardly toward each other, engaging the abutment faces 32 on the ends of the flanges 31 in back of the ribs. The remainder of the mechanism, comprising the column B, the friction wedge blocks D, the spring followers t3 and springsE, are then assembled and the two followers, with the wedge blocks C therein, are telescoped; over these parts.

During the assembling operation, the converging wedge members at the opposite end of the column B will enter between the wedge faces of the pairs of blocks C. Considerable pressure is then applied to force t-he followers A toward each other, thereby wedging the blocks C apart until the lugs 30. of the latter snap over the shoulders 27 of the column, whereupon all of the parts will be interlocked so as to limit the separation of t-he followers A, thus holding the parts assembled.

To disassemble themechanism, the blocks C are forced apart by a wedge member which is inserted-through the opening 21 of the follower A. As will be evident when the members C are forced apart, the lugs 30 will be disengaged from the shoulders 27 of the central column and the abutment faces 32 on theV flanges of the blocks C will be disengaged from the ribs 20, whereupon the parts of the mechanism will be automatically separated and forced apart bythe springs E. As will be obvious, all of these parts may then readily be removed. f

From the preceding description taken in connection with the drawing, .it will be evident that I have provided rugged retaining means for holding the parts of the mechanism assembled, which does not in any way weaken the structure of any of the parts and especially the walls of the front and rea-r follower casings. Further, by providing the retaining means described, the parts may be quickly assembled or separated when desired.

While I have herein shown and described what I consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications which come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

l. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with outer followers relatively movable toward and away from each other, said followers having wedge means thereon; of a plurality of cooperating friction wedge elements at each end of the mechanism; additional friction wedge elements cooperating with the first named wedge elements and having'wedging engagement with the wedge means of the followers; spring resistance means between said followers opposing relative movement of the friction wedge elements; means for restricting longitudinal separation of certain of said elements at opposite ends of the mechanism; and cooperatingl means integral with each follower and others of said cooperating wedge friction elements respectively, having shouldered engagement, for limiting separation of each follower and the corresponding last-named elements, thereby also limiting longitudinal separation of said followers and holding the mechanismassembled.

2. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with youter followers relatively movable toward and away from each other; of` a column element interposed between said followers; wedge elements at opposite ends of the mechanism having wedging engagement with the column 5 additional wedge elements at opposite ends of the mechanism, 'having wedging engagement with the first named wedge elements andsaid followers; spring resistance interposed between the last named vwedgeA elements; and means on said first named wedge elements having shouldered engagement with the column and followers for limiting separation of the; followers and holding the mechanism assembled. r

3.- In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination withv outer followers relatively movable toward and away from each other; ofr a central column interposed between `said followers; friction wedge blocks at each end-of the. said meansincluding a wedge block having wedging engagement with said column, each block also having shouldered engagement with the column to limit outward movement of the block, each block further having shouldered engagement with the corresponding follower to limit outward movement thereofand hold the mechanism assembled; and spring means between said followers opposing movement of the friction wedge means at opposite ends of the mechanism.

4t. Ina friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with outer followers relatively movable toward and away from Aeach other; of a longitudinally disposed .columninterposed between said followers', said column having wedge faces at opposite Vends thereof; a pair of wedge blocks at each end of the column,the blocks of each pair being disposed on `opposite sides of the column and 'having frictional engagement with said followers and wedging engagement with the wedge faces of the column, said blocks having shouldered engagement with the columnV and followers to limit outward movement of the followers and hold the column, each of mechanism assembled; a pair of additional wedge blocks at each end of the mechanism having wedging engagement with the friction wedge blocks and cooperating follower; and spring resistance means interposed between the wedge blocks at opposite ends of the mechanism.

5. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear follower casings having opposed interior wedge faces; of two pairs of wedge blocks at opposite ends of the mechanism, the blocks of each pair being disposed at opposite sides of the mechanism and engaging the wedge faces of the corresponding follower' casing;

spring resistance means at opposite sides of the mechanism interposed between the pairs of wedge blocks; a column member interposed between the followers, said column member having retaining shoulders and wedge means at opposite ends thereof; a pair of friction wedge blocks at each end of the mechanism disposed on opposite sides of the column, having shouldered engagement with means on the top and bottom walls of the follower 'casings to limit ontward movement of the casings; having frictional engagement with the corresponding followers and having wedging engagement with said column and the nrst named wedge blocks; said friction wedge blocks having retaining shoulders cooperating with the retaining shoulders of the column to limit outward movement of the blocks.

6, ln a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear followers relatively movable toward and away from each other, said followers having wedge means thereon; of a plurality of cooperating friction wedge elements at each end of the mechanism; spring resistance means; additional wedo'e members at opposite ends of said spring resistance means, said additional wedge members having wedging engagement with said wedge elements and wedge means on said followers; cooperating interengageable means integral with said followers and said wedge elements respectively for limiting separation of each of the followers and cooperating wedge elements in direction lengthwise of the mechanism; and means for restricting relative separation of said wedge e'lements lengthwise of the mechanism, thereby restricting relative separation of the followers and holding the mechanism assembled.

ln witness that I claim the foregoing l have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st day of February, 1929.

JOHN F. OCONNOR. 

